5 Must-Know Tips for Holiday Food Safety

The holiday season's here and that means we'll all be cooking and eating more than usual. But with the stress of preparing for a large gathering, it's easy to overlook some critical tips for food safety. Here are 5 things you must know to prevent food poisoning from putting a damper on the festivities.

1. Cook by the numbers An instant read thermometer isn't just for summer grilling, it's invaluable throughout the year. Not only will it help you serve foods that are fully cooked and therefore safe to eat but, it can ensure that your prime rib roast comes out a perfect,medium-rare roast.

2. Set it butdon't forget it! Large buffets make it easy to serve grand holiday meals to a crowd, but they need to be set up and maintained carefully to keep food from "turning". Hold hot foods at temperatures above 140˚F (use chafing dishes with lids and burners) and cold foods below 40˚F. No matter what, don't leave food out longer than two hours.

3. Keep batches small Instead of preparing a large platter of a single dish and leaving it out throughout the open house, prep several small batches and bring them out as each platter is emptied. Food won't sit out as long and the buffet won't look picked-over half way through the party. When you bring leftovers back into the kitchen, make sure to stick them in the fridge right away.

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4. Travel wisely If you need to carry a dish with you, pack it carefully. Forget about using those "insulated" food bags from the grocery store--our tests have shown they don't work. If you need to travel a long distance, stash cold foods in the trunk or use a cooler. Re-heat hot dishes when you arrive.

5. Never heat in your slow cookerSlow cookers can take a long time to heat up and should never be used to reheat foods. Instead, switch the slow cooker on while you heat foods in the oven or on top of the stove. Once food has been fully heated you can transfer it to the slow cooker to keep it warm.

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